Average Math and Science Scores of Fourth-Grade and Eighth-Grade Students by Country

Average Mathematics Scale Scores, 2003

Fourth grade

Eighth grade

Country

Average score

Country

Average score

Country

Average score

Country

Average score

International average

495

Cyprus

510

International average

466

Slovak Rep.

508

Singapore

594

Moldova, Rep. of

504

Singapore

605

Australia

505

Hong Kong SAR1,2

575

Italy

503

Korea, Rep. of

589

(United States)

504

Japan

565

Australia2

499

Hong Kong SAR1,2

586

Lithuania3

502

Chinese Taipei

564

New Zealand

493

Chinese Taipei

585

Sweden

499

Belgium-Flemish

551

Scotland2

490

Japan

570

Scotland1

498

Netherlands2

540

Slovenia

479

Belgium-Flemish

537

(Israel)

496

Latvia

536

Armenia

456

Netherlands1

536

New Zealand

494

Lithuania3

534

Norway

451

Estonia

531

Slovenia

493

Russian Federation

532

Iran, Islamic Rep. of

389

Hungary

529

Italy

484

England2

531

Philippines

358

Malaysia

508

Armenia

478

Hungary

529

Morocco

347

Latvia

508

Serbia3

477

United States2

518

Tunisia

339

Russian Federation

508

Bulgaria

476

NOTE: Countries are ordered by 2003 average score. The test for significance between the United States and the international average was adjusted to account for the U.S. contribution to the international average. Countries were required to sample students in the upper of the two grades that contained the largest number of 9- and 13-year-olds. In the United States and most countries, this corresponds to grade 4 and grade 8. Parentheses indicate countries that did not meet international sampling or other guidelines in 2003.

1. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China.

2. Met international guidelines for participation rates in 2003 only after replacement schools were included.

3. National desired population does not cover all of the international desired population.

Source: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), 2003.

Average Science Scale Scores, 2003

Fourth grade

Eighth grade

Country

Average score

Country

Average score

Country

Average score

Country

Average score

International average

489

Belgium-Flemish

518

International average

473

New Zealand

520

Singapore

565

Italy

516

Singapore

578

Lithuania3

519

Chinese Taipei

551

Lithuania3

512

Chinese Taipei

571

Slovak Rep.

517

Japan

543

Scotland2

502

Korea, Rep. of

558

Belgium-Flemish

516

Hong Kong SAR1,2

542

Moldova, Rep. of

496

Hong Kong SAR1,2

556

Russian Federation

514

England2

540

Slovenia

490

Estonia

552

Latvia

512

United States2

536

Cyprus

480

Japan

552

Scotland2

512

Latvia

532

Norway

466

Hungary

543

Malaysia

510

Hungary

530

Armenia

437

Netherlands2

536

Norway

494

Russian Federation

526

Iran, Islamic Rep. of

414

(United States)

527

Italy

491

Netherlands2

525

Philippines

332

Australia

527

(Israel)

488

Australia2

521

Tunisia

314

Sweden

524

Bulgaria

479

New Zealand

520

Morocco

304

Slovenia

520

Jordan

475

NOTE: Countries are ordered by 2003 average score. The test for significance between the United States and the international average was adjusted to account for the U.S. contribution to the international average. Countries were required to sample students in the upper of the two grades that contained the largest number of 9- and 13-year-olds. In the United States and most countries, this corresponds to grade 4 and grade 8. Parentheses indicate countries that did not meet international sampling or other guidelines in 2003.

1. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China.

2. Met international guidelines for participation rates in 2003 only after replacement schools were included.

3. National desired population does not cover all of the international desired population.

Source: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), 2003.